Officials Take Action to Improve Integrity at Baltimore Correctional Institutions

TOWSON, MD (July 26, 2013) – As it continues to root out corruption at the Baltimore City Detention Center (BCDC), the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) today announced the new director of its Internal Investigative Unit (IIU). Mark Carter, currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer for Maryland State Police (MSP), will take over as IIU Director in September.

“This is a critical position, and one in which the Department needed a person of integrity with a lot of investigative experience,” said DPSCS Secretary Gary D. Maynard. “Mark Carter brings us just that.”

A key element of Carter’s experience is 23 years of investigative experience with MSP. He has been Criminal Investigator Supervisor, Criminal Investigator for State Police (MSP) in the MD Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant Commander of MSP’s Internal Affairs Division.

Carter looks forward to the challenges in his new position. “There’s no more important responsibility for law enforcement than to root out corruption in institutions and employees who contribute to it,” he said. “This is a great opportunity to continue carrying the torch of all the great things Public Safety has been doing.”

Prior to his State Police tenure, Carter served as a Baltimore County Police officer, as well as a U.S. Marine. He holds degrees in psychology (University of Baltimore) and criminal justice (CCBC); has a certificate in executive leadership and management training from the FBI; and holds a Top Secret Security Clearance.

DPSCS IIU is separate from, but works cooperatively with, the City Correctional Investigative Unit (CCIU), which Gov. O’Malley created in May 2013 to aggressively investigate and prosecute inmates and prison personnel who violate the law.

CCIU today announced a series of actions that grew out of the partnership among CCIU participants: the State’s Attorney’s Office, Maryland State Police and DPSCS.

In February 2013, the State’s Attorney’s Office charged Corrections Officer Sean Graves with possession with intent to distribute oxycodone, possession of contraband and narcotics in a place of confinement, and possession of narcotics following an investigation by a DPSCS IIU investigation.

The original DPSCS IIU investigation was based on intelligence developed inside BCDC that indicated Graves intended to deliver contraband to an inmate. Following the monitoring of paid inmate phone calls and surveillance, DPSCS personnel apprehended Graves as he attempted to sneak six tablets of oxycodone into the facility.

After taking responsibility for the case, CCIU determined that charges also should be filed against Graves’s co-conspirators — Inmate Michael Gordon and Baltimore City resident Garnett Logan. Logan allegedly provided the narcotics to Graves, while Gordon was the intended recipient.

The Baltimore City Grand Jury on July 24, 2013, indicted Graves, inmate Gordon, and Baltimore City resident Logan for allegedly taking part in a triangle conspiracy to smuggle oxycodone into the Baltimore City Detention Center.

Graves resigned May 22, 2013 after the original charges were brought.

Yesterday, CCIU also took action in connection with Corrections Officer Clarissa Clayton and her boyfriend, Craig Parker. CCIU took action regarding Clayton and Parker’s alleged roles in a violent attack on Clayton’s uncle. This attack happened away from BCDC, and outside of Clayton’s official capacity as a correctional officer.

The June 2013 attack, which allegedly occurred at Clayton’s urging, left the victim with injuries to his head and upper body; the victim required medical treatment.

In June 2013, Clayton and Parker were charged with misdemeanor second-degree assault for the incident. Because a correctional officer was a defendant, CCIU assumed responsibility for the case. Following further investigation, CCIU sought and secured grand jury indictments for first-degree assault against both defendants.

Clayton resigned on Thursday.

“Partnering with DPSCS and Maryland State Police, we are making progress in our drive to ensure both that correctional officers uphold the law rather than violate it and that our correctional facilities are free of illegal contraband and corruption,” State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein said.

“Any employee involved in corruption, or who contributes to institutional violence that puts his or her colleagues in danger, should be on notice,” said DPSCS Secretary Gary D. Maynard. “We have the tools and we will come after you.”

Indictments are not findings of guilt. An individual is innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court proceeding.

The CCIU, made up of Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorneys assigned to the Major Investigations Unit, Maryland State Police Investigators, and DPSCS investigators, continues to work aggressively to promote integrity in Baltimore City correctional institutions.